I spent the month of September traveling 5,000-plus miles visiting friends in the Midwest and East. The trip exceeded expectations, but when we returned home we were reminded why we choose to live here: no bugs, low humidity, sunny days and our wonderful peaks and trails.

Rather than rest on the Pikes Peak region’s laurels, it never hurts to ponder how we could improve it for ourselves and generations to come.

Recently, El Paso County Parks informed us they were putting the brakes on a proposed nature center in the rapidly growing northern part of our county. My daughter was a camper and camp counselor at both of the existing county nature centers. Those experiences contributed to her love for the outdoors and commitment to stewardship. Parents in northern El Paso County deserve the same opportunity for their children.

Over the years, I’ve been told repeatedly “now is not a good time.” Whether it’s to replace an unsafe playground, improve an irrigation system or buy a piece of open space, the dollars are rarely sufficient. Our city and county parks make each dollar go as far as they possibly can. Fact is, for some in our community, there is never a good time to consider a tax increase. The economy will never be healthy enough, there will always be other priorities and on and on.

Open Space advocates in Fort Collins ignored such naysayers and put Issue 302 on their November ballot. Issue 302 extends the .25% open space tax (passed in 2002) and removes the sunset clause. It currently raises $11 million per year for acquisition, maintenance and operations.

Provisions in the ballot measure tweak the program in 2061, spending 10% less on acquisition and 10% more on maintenance and operations. This is a prudent approach for any open space program since the amount of purchasable land naturally diminishes over time.

Issue 302 was initiated by citizens. Advocates had to collect 5,070 signatures from registered voters to put it on the ballot. If Issue 302 doesn’t pass, the current open space program expires in 2030.

I’m predicting it will pass since it doesn’t involve a tax increase and residents in Fort Collins and Larimer County have consistently supported their trails and open spaces. City voters will also be asked to add a .25% community capital improvement program sales tax that would improve parks, build pickleball courts, add two dog parks plus a bike park and improve trail connectivity.

My daughter who spent weeks in Bear Creek and Fountain Creek nature centers is now attending veterinary school in Fort Collins. She runs on the city’s extensive trail system and bikes in that platinum bike-friendly city. She talks about coming back to Colorado Springs after graduation. It’s every parent’s dream to make the world just a bit better for their kids. I’m hoping we can do that.

Davies is the former executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition.